Icon Painting Faculty Summarizes Second Half of Academic Year

On May 28, 30, and 31, a review of student work for the second half of the 2024/2025 academic year took place in the workshops of the Icon Painting Faculty of the Moscow Theological Academy.

On Wednesday, May 28, first- and second-year students presented copies of icons and icon fragments to the commission. First-year students completed their work in the workshops, while second-year students traveled for their copying practice in museums in Yaroslavl, Pskov, Murom, Arkhangelsk, and other cities. 

The students also copied works from the Museum of Christian Art of the Moscow Theological Academy, known as the "Church-Archaeological Cabinet". During this period of their studies, students master the skill of painting the lichnoye (the "face and body") — the most important and complex part of the icon painting technique. 

The second-year students also presented their course work — small-sized icons of the Savior, the Mother of God, and saints — as well as creative works, including sketches for the iconography of ancient saints. 

On May 30, a review was held for third-year students and students from the facial embroidery department. The third-year students' course works were icons for the festive tier of an iconostasis for a church in the city of Myshkin. They also completed assignments to develop the iconography of new saints, presenting both sketches and finished icons. Copies of works from museums were also presented. 

For several third-year students, this review served as the defense of their final project, while the rest will continue their studies in the fourth and fifth years, which constitute the second stage of their training. 

The same day, a review of work from the pictorial embroidery department's students took place. The embroiderers presented samples of various stitches, bookmarks for Gospels, embroidered icons, and pelena (the "shrouds"). 

On May 31, the fourth- and fifth-year students' reviews were held. Fourth-year students developed iconostasis projects and completed course icons for the deesis tier for the church in Myshkin. 

Fifth-year students demonstrated the process of their work on their final projects — icons for the local tier for the Yuriev Monastery, the church in Myshkin, and others. During the review, the commission provided valuable comments and suggestions that will help them complete their final works to a high standard.

MThA Press Office